Beverly Van Orman

Beverly Van Orman, of Burlington, MA, and formerly of Dedham, Canton, and Milton, passed away on June 30, 2026. Beverly, daughter of Frances Stratton Moss and H. Lloyd Moss, Jr., was raised in Newton, MA. During the summer of ‘53, Bev met Peter, her husband of 72 years, while working as a waitress at the Hawthorne Inn in Chatham, MA. Beverly and Peter eloped in February of ‘54 while they were both still in college. Bev went on to earn a two-year degree from Bradford Junior College later that spring, while Peter continued his education. Bev was a devoted mother, grandmother, and volunteer extraordinaire. She gave her time and energies to many different organizations over the years, serving as a volunteer, committee member, board member, president, trustee, fundraiser, and spokesperson, including Camp Fire of Greater Boston, Roxbury Latin School, Brimmer and May School, Visiting Nurse Associates, Inc., The Stanley R. Tippet Home in Needham, Milton Garden Club, College Club of Boston, and Allin Congregational Church of Dedham. She shared her knowledge of the home health care industry at both the state and national levels. She also worked on projects with The Blue Hills Reservation, the Neponset River Watershed, and various other conservation endeavors. She helped establish the Blossom Fund, which provided seed money to organizations within the City of Boston and its neighborhoods for their gardens and/or preservation projects. She was a leader known for her spirit, heart, and work ethic. Bev was a doer, always ready to roll up her sleeves, whether it was cleaning cabins and campgrounds before summer campers arrived or licking envelopes. She was a modest, down-to-earth woman who worked tirelessly to improve the organizations that she was involved in. Beverly was an animal lover, having had many cats and dogs in her lifetime. The family record was two Newfoundlands and seven cats at one time. She was an avid tennis player, bridge player, skier, and gardener. Beverly had a gift of a green thumb and lovingly tended her extensive gardens at her home in Canton. Beverly loved opera and enjoyed attending the Boston Symphony for many years. She loved playing cards, board games, and doing puzzles; the love of which she passed onto her children and grandchildren. She particularly enjoyed doing Liberty wooden puzzles. She would write on the back of the box how long it took her to complete. She redid them over the years to see if she could improve her time. For many years, she and Peter enjoyed spending summers and weekends in the winters in Campton, N.H. Later in life, they renovated a 200 year old farmhouse in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia reminded them of the Cape that they loved as teens. They quickly became members of the local Mahone Bay community and made friends from all over the world.

She is survived by her husband, Peter Van Orman, and their children, Catherine Van Orman, of Natick, MA, Wayne Van Orman and his wife, Mim, of Concord, MA, Elizabeth Stafford and her husband, Joe, of Derry, N.H., and Susan Weaver and her partner, Steve, of Boston, MA. Her son, Matthew, predeceased her in January 1986 as well as her parents and brother, Robert Moss. Beverly is survived by eleven grandchildren, Lindsey Yeaton Stigers (husband, Brandon), Matthew Yeaton (partner, Katie), Caitlin Yeaton Smedberg (husband, Pete), Heather Van Orman, Michael Van Orman (wife, Katie), Pascal Looper, (fiancée, Leanne), Pierre Looper, Megan Weaver Twedt (husband, Nate), Corbin Weaver, (fiancé, Sam), Skylar Weaver, and Sam Weaver. She has nine great grandchildren, Abby, Jack, Owen, Caroline, Grace, Drew, Marlo, Mason, and Emerson. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Jeanne (Bunny) Van Orman, numerous nieces and nephews, and cousins.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, July 24, 2026 from 9-11 AM, followed by a Celebration of Life service at 11 AM at Folsom Funeral Home, 87 Milton St., Dedham, MA. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Allin Congregational Church, 683 High Street, Dedham, MA 02026.